The Hartselle City Council held a public hearing last Tues., April 28, during the regularly scheduled council meeting. The public hearing was held to receive input about the possible increase in the municipal ad valorem tax, which has been proposed to replace a school district tax that will expire September 30, 2017.

Dr. Vic Wilson superintendent of Hartselle City Schools gave a short presentation to the council and those in attendance as to what the current tax covers for the system.

The 7.3 mills tax currently amounts to approximately $1 million in local revenue for the system. From this revenue the school system is able to supplement instructional programs above what the state allocation will offer. For example, all of the city elementary schools have full time counselors versus the half time by which the state allocates funds.

Local resident Don Sanders was the only person who chose to speak at the hearing. Sanders questioned Wilson about the permanent nature of the tax as well as why they were pushing a tax so soon before the other would end.

After the public hearing the council approved a resolution asking the Alabama State Legislature permission to hold a special election to be conducted in the fall allowing Hartselle citizens to vote for an increase in ad valorem taxes that will replace a school district tax expiring in September 2017.

In other items the council:

•Introduced a proposal to annex property on Ray Road.

•Re-zoning of the property was also introduced.

•Approved safety award winners for the second quarter  (Jeremy Griffith, Dustin Holbert, Staci McCormick, Marianne Smith and Roger Aldridge)

•Approved request to fill two equipment operator positions in the Public Works Department (these are not new positions, filling current positions that will be vacant)

•Approved Nina Johnson for a position on the Cemetery Board.

•A discussion about changes in downtown traffic flow and signals will take place at the next work session

•In closing Mayor Don Hall also mentioned that ALDOT had removed the Hwy. 36 Bypass and the widening of Hwy 36 West from their current plans